Copyright Act, 1957
40. Power to extend copyright to foreign works -
The Central Government may, by order published
in the Official Gazette, direct that all or any provisions of this Act, shall
apply.
a. to work first published in any territory
outside India to which the order related in like manner as if they were first
published within India,
b. to unpublished works, or any class thereof,
the authors whereof were at the time of the making of the work, subjects or
citizens of a foreign country to which the order relates, in like manner as if
the authors were citizens of India.
c. In respect of domicile in any
territory outside India to which the order relates in like manner as if such
domicile were in India
d. To any work of which the author was at
the date of the first publication thereof, or, in case where the author was
dead at the date, was at the time of his death, a subject or citizens of
foreign country to which the order relates in like manner as if the author was
a citizen of India at that date or time.
And thereupon, subject to the provisions of
this Chapter and of the order, this Act shall apply accordingly.
Provided that –
i. Before making an order under this
section in respect of any foreign country (other than a country with which
India has entered into a treaty or which is a party to a convention relating to
copying to which India is also a party, the Central Government shall be
satisfied that foreign country has made, or has undertaken to make, such
provision, if any, as it appears to the Central Government expedient to require
for the protection in that country of works entitled to copyright under the
provisions of this Act,
ii. The order may provide that the
provisions of this Act shall apply either generally or in relation to such
classes of works or such classes of case may be specified in the order.
iii. the order may provide that the term
of copyright in India shall not exceed that conferred by the law of the country
to which the order relates:
iv. The order may provide that the enjoyment
of the rights conferred by this Act shall be subject to the accomplishment of
such conditions and formalities, if any, as may be prescribed by the order,
v. In applying the provisions of this Act
as to ownership of copyright, the order may make such exceptions and
modifications as appear necessary, having regard to the law of the foreign
country.
vi. The order may provide that this Act
or any part thereof shall not apply to works made before the commencement of
the order or that this Act or any part thereof shall not apply to works first
published before the commencement of the order.